In a world where the headlines are often heavy, there are places and people, quietly transforming lives. At the recent Karinya House Charity Luncheon, more than just funds were raised. Hearts were stirred. Truths were spoken. Futures were made possible.
Justice Louise Taylor, a trailblazer in the Australian legal system and the first Aboriginal woman appointed to a superior court, brought the room to quiet reflection with her deeply personal and professional insights into family violence, poverty, and the systemic gaps that continue to put women and children at risk.
Her message was raw and clear: financial resources may not prevent violence, but they are often the only path out. And places like Karinya House are the difference between survival and stability, between crisis and control.
She reminded us that behind every court file or frontline crisis is a woman, a child, a story waiting for support. That the generational impact of violence and poverty won’t be solved by good intentions alone, but by tangible services, like those offered at Karinya, that wrap around a woman with housing, counselling, parenting support, and above all, dignity.
Lavinia Tyrell, CEO of Karinya House, echoed this theme, sharing not only organisational impact but the humanity behind the numbers. Her words painted a picture of what happens when a woman, like former resident Jodi, is given the chance to breathe. To rest. To heal. And then to thrive.
With more than 100 women supported each year, Karinya House remains one of the ACT’s most vital services for pregnant and parenting women facing homelessness, violence, or poverty. Yet Lavinia was clear, demand far outweighs capacity.
So what do we do?
We remember that creating lasting change means investing in the people and places that anchor others during their most turbulent times. That every donation, volunteer hour, shared post, or community conversation makes space for possibility. And that wraparound care isn’t a luxury, it’s what equity looks like in practice.
The afternoon, hosted beautifully by Genevieve Jacobs AM and filled with joy thanks to Rhythm and Girl was more than a charity luncheon. It was a reminder that in Canberra, community still means something.
And for the women who pass through the doors of Karinya House, it means everything.
Being in that room felt like hope made real, but there’s still more to do.
